Apparatus and method for securing a collection of products

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for securing a collection of products. The apparatus includes a base body and a container body for containing the product, such as lotion in bottles. One of the bodies (e.g., the container body) has at least one groove with opposing sidewalls and a floor and the other of the bodies (e.g., the base body) has a rib with complementary sidewalls removably mounted in the at least one groove. A fastening means, such as adhesive, can be substituted for the groove and rib in an alternative. The method includes a user selecting a base body and a plurality of container bodies and mounting the container bodies to the base body. The base body is mounted into a basket for completing the collection.

(e) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for packaging products, such as bottles of lotion and fragrances, and more specifically to an apparatus and method for securing and packaging a collection of such products in a receptacle after a customer has selected the desired products.

2. Description of the Related Art

When a customer of, for example, a fragrance or beauty products store wants to purchase a gift basket of multiple items, conventionally there are two options for displaying those items. First, the customer can purchase a pre-packaged gift basket that has pre-selected items arranged neatly in a sealed basket. In pre-packaged gift baskets, the basket or an insert thereof can be molded to accept the pre-selected product containers. Second, the customer can select multiple products from all of the products in the store and have a store clerk arrange the products in a gift basket. The clerk typically arranges the products using grass-like stuffing as a base to make the products remain in a desired display position and a cellophane wrapper encloses the entire gift set. Normally, the products are also glued together or to the receptacle.

The problem with the first option is that the customer may only want a few of the products in the pre-packaged gift set and the remaining products are wasted. If a customer buys such a set, the customer purchases one or more products he does not want, along with one or more products he does. In addition, one method for packaging such pre-selected products includes gluing the items together and attaching a shrink wrap band to hold the products in place. It is undesirable to the customer to have an adhesive of any kind on her newly purchased fragrance or beauty product container, primarily because such adhesive detracts from the appearance of the container. Additionally, if pre-manufactured materials are used to hold the products, such materials are only able to hold the products that were pre-selected to be in the pre-packaged gift set, or another product of identical size and shape. Thus, the manufacturer can only insert a product of a particular shape and size into the package, and changes or substitutions cannot be made, unless the substitute product containers have the same sizes and shapes as the originals.

The problem with the second option is that the grass-like stuffing does not have enough support to hold the products in an upright position during transport. Thus, the products tend to shift, and, by the time the recipient opens the basket, the products are not in the decorative display position in the basket. The customer has a limited ability to reposition the products without opening the gift.

Therefore, it is the object and feature of the invention to provide an apparatus and method for securing a collection of products in a manner that provides support to hold the products in an aesthetically pleasing position.

(f) BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is an apparatus and method for securing a collection of products. The apparatus has a base body and a container body. The base body can be the base of a gift basket, or an insert that is mounted in a gift basket. The container body can be a lotion bottle or box of powder, but can also be a cup that holds the lotion bottle or box of powder.

One of the bodies (container or base) has a groove with opposing sidewalls and a floor in it, while the other of the bodies has a rib with complementary sidewalls removably mounted in the groove. By removably mounting the rib of one body in the groove of the other body, the product purchased can be mounted in the gift basket along with other purchased products for display. The products remain firmly in place, but are easily removed by the ultimate user of the products.

The method includes a user selecting a base body and a container body and mounting the container body to the base body. The base body is mounted into a basket or other receptacle. This can be repeated for multiple container bodies for completing the collection of such products.

The user can thus create a collection of products of various sizes and shapes in the store, on-line or via catalog and have the products collected in a display that will withstand the conditions of transportation to the end user. This method enables the user to select from a variety of all products, not just products of a particular shape and size, and display the products in a creative way he or she chooses. This thereby eliminates the purchase of unwanted products that conventionally come in a pre-packaged gift collection and avoids the need for custom-made inserts for every possible combination of products.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective illustrating a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective illustrating another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective illustrating an embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a view in perspective illustrating a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view in perspective illustrating an embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a view in perspective illustrating an embodiment of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a view in perspective illustrating an embodiment of FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view illustrating an alternative embodiment of FIG. 4.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of FIG. 4.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of FIG. 4.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view illustrating an alternative embodiment of the invention with the container body adhered to the base body.

In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended that the invention is limited to the specific term so selected and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents, which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.

(h) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In a first embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 3, the base body 12 has a rib 24, or, as shown, a plurality of ribs 24 and 25. The base body can be the floor of a gift basket or an insert attached to the floor of a gift basket. Likewise, the gift basket can be replaced by any receptacle, such as a box, basket, can or any decorative receptacle.

The rib 24 is removably mounted into a groove 14 formed in the container body, such as the bottle 20 shown in FIG. 1. The bottle 20 has a cylindrical sidewall, and the groove 14 is formed in an adjoining floorwall of the bottle 20. The container body can be the vessel that contains the product, as it is in the FIG. 1 embodiment in which the container body is the bottle 20. Alternatively, the container body can be a structure, such as a cup 21, that is mounted to the vessel for the product, as shown in FIG. 2 and described immediately below. In either case, the container body (which contains the purchased product) mounts to the base body (which is part of the receptacle for the collection of purchased products) so that the collection of purchased products is displayed pleasingly to the ultimate recipient.

An alternative container body, such as the cup 21 illustrated in FIG. 2, has opposing sidewalls that define a cavity 22. The cavity 22 has a complimentary receiving surface for an exterior of one of the collection of products 11, as shown in FIG. 6. The products can include the vessel (such as a bottle) containing the products (such as lotion or powder) or the product itself (such as a bar of soap that is not contained in a vessel, other than paper or a thin film). A groove 15 is formed on a floorwall of the cup 21, and is spaced a pre-determined distance from the sidewall for easy alignment when mounted to the rib 24 of the base body 12 as described below. Thus, a vessel, such as a bottle, box, can or any other vessel containing product, or the product itself, is inserted with a friction fit into the cup 21 to be, or which has already been, attached to the base body.

The sidewalls of the groove 14 are preferably angled less than about 90 degrees relative to the floor and are preferably angled at about 85 degrees to the floor. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the sidewalls of the rib 524 are angled to match the sidewalls of the groove 514. The preferred ribs have a ceiling and angled sidewalls that substantially match the angles of the sidewalls of the grooves 14 and 15, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5. Because of the angled rib and groove sidewalls, the groove is narrower at the top than at the floor. The rib is wider at the ceiling than the groove is at the top. Furthermore, the rib and the groove are made of material that can be bent by hand.

During insertion when the wide ceiling of the rib is pushed into the narrower top of the groove, the narrower groove sidewalls flex to accommodate the wider rib and the wider rib sidewalls flex to fit through the narrower groove. This is how the widest part of the rib (the ceiling) enters the narrowest part of the groove. As the ribs are further inserted into the groove, the sidewall material of the grooves 14 and 15 and of the ribs 24 and 25 begin to return to their original position as permitted by the more closely matched dimensions of the corresponding structures. Because the widest part of the ribs seat against the widest part of the grooves at the floor, once the ceilings of the ribs are seated firmly against the floors of the grooves, or as close as they can, the groove and rib sidewalls have completely contracted, thereby holding the ribs in the grooves by friction and in the manner of a dovetail joint.

These cooperating structures enable a user to mount the product 11, as shown in FIG. 6, to the base body and hold the product in place, while permitting the cup 21 to be removed from the groove 14, if a significant force is applied. This prevents the container body from simply falling off the base body but retains it in place during transport.

In an alternative embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 9, the sidewalls of the rib 324 can be angled more severely with matching groove sidewalls (like an arrow) so that when it is inserted into the groove 314 with overlapping edges 313 and 315, there is more bending of the material necessary to remove the product, which better holds the rib 324 in place. Thus, the strength of the rib/groove interface can be adjusted by adjusting the angle of the sidewalls and the strength of the materials of which the sidewalls are made.

The base body 12, grooves 14 and 15, and ribs 24 and 25 are preferably generally rectangular in shape, meaning the top edges of the sidewalls of the groove and rib are substantially parallel, and the ends of each are substantially parallel, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. However, each can be a variety of matching shapes. For example, the base body 12, grooves 14 and 15, and ribs 24 and 25 can be circular, square, oval or octagonal, among other shapes.

Furthermore, the number, shape and size of the grooves and ribs on either the base body or the container body can be formed in various combinations. As illustrated in FIG. 7, for example, the base body 212 can be circular having three grooves 214, 216 and 218 that are rectangular in shape and of different length. In a still further varied embodiment, a base body can have a plurality of ribs, each of which is a different shape, width and length. The only concern with such an embodiment is that a container body, in order to mount to the base body, must have ribs of matching shape and size. Still further, if there is a plurality of ribs, they can be parallel, transverse or even perpendicular to one another as illustrated in FIG. 12. This permits a wider variety for the user to display the products, but also increases the complexity.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the length of the grooves 214, 216 and 218 can vary, depending upon the shape of the base body 212. As will be recognized by a person having ordinary skill in the art, there will be any suitable number of ribs on the base body or container bodies, depending upon the type of groove being used. Further still, if there is more than one rib on a body, the ribs can be inserted into more than one groove on a corresponding body, so that one rib is in one groove and the other rib is in the adjacent groove. Multiple ribs and grooves to connect one body to another can be used, for example, when greater holding strength is desired, such as when products are substantially heavier or more fragile.

The size of the base body, grooves and ribs can vary as well. For example, the length and width of the base body can range from a size slightly greater than the groove to about one foot or even more, depending upon the size of the receptacle, such as a box or a basket 19, in which the base body 12 is to be inserted.

The base body 12, grooves 14 and 15 and ribs 24 and 25 are preferably made of plastic of a thickness and strength than can be hand-deformed. Each can be made of polystyrene, die-cut corrugated paper, HIPS, thermoform, polyethylene, or any other suitable material.

The base body can be a planar panel, as shown in FIG. 7, with grooves that are essentially perpendicularly oriented relative to the panel, and the container bodies will mount standing essentially upright. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 8, however, the base bodies 12 and 412 can be a panel bent along lines to form planar regions adjacent to angled planar regions. In the FIG. 3 base body, the ribs 24 and 25 are angled about 45 degrees relative to the floor of the receptacle that receives the base body so that when the ribs 24 and 25 are inserted into the grooves of the container bodies, the products rest at a similar angle relative to the floor for a pleasing display as shown in FIG. 6. In FIG. 8, the grooves 414 and 415 are angled about 45 degrees relative to the floor of the receptacle so that when the ribs of container bodies are inserted into the grooves 414 and 415 the products rest at a pleasing angle for display. The angles are not critical, but are listed as examples.

The shape of the cavity 22 of the cup 21, illustrated in FIG. 2, is preferably circular, but it will be recognized by a person having ordinary skill in the art that the shape of the cavity 22 can be any variety of suitable shapes depending upon the shape of the vessel or product to be inserted into the cavity 22. For example, the cavity 22 can be oval, rectangular, square (as illustrated in FIG. 11), or octagonal, among others. Alternatively, the container body can be integral to the product, such as in the case of the bottle 20 illustrated in FIG. 1. A “container body” as defined herein can be the vessel, such as a bottle, can or box that contains the product that will be used (e.g., soap, lotion, perfume, etc.) or a cup or other structure that the vessel is placed into and held, such as the cup 21 in FIG. 2.

The groove or rib that is formed on the container body is preferably spaced a predetermined distance from the sidewall of the container body for easy alignment when mounted to the base body, as described in more detail below. As illustrated in FIG. 10, each of the ribs 624 and 625 is spaced a pre-determined distance x, from one of the sidewalls of the respective container bodies 620 and 621. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the grooves 14 and 15 is a pre-determined distance x from one of the sidewalls of the respective container bodies. Preferably, the ribs 624 and 625 and grooves 14 and 15 are about 2 cm from the closest sidewall of the respective container bodies. However, any suitable distance can be used for ensuring the container bodies display a product at a desired position as discussed in more detail immediately below.

Because the ribs (or grooves of a reversed embodiment) of each container body are preferably positioned the same distance from the closest sidewall of the container bodies, when the container bodies are mounted to the base body, the container bodies attached to a common groove (or rib) all have a common aligned side regardless of the diameter of the container bodies. This is because the rib (or groove) is the same distance from the aligned sides of the container body (e.g., bottle), regardless of the container body's diameter. Thus, a one inch diameter bottle, a two inch diameter bottle and a three inch diameter bottle all can have a side aligned along a single plane, because their ribs align in a base body's groove, and the container bodies have one side spaced the same distance from the groove. This is important because in a collection of products of varying sizes and shapes, the products can be arranged to have a pleasing (i.e., aligned) display. Of course, if one wishes to create a disjointed display for effect, one can simply alternate the sides that are the predetermined distance from the ribs (as shown in FIG. 4). This permits alignment when desired and still permits creative display.

As will be recognized by a person having ordinary skill in the art, and as has been noted herein, each body will preferably have either a rib or a groove. For example, the container body can have a rib; in which case the base body will have a corresponding groove. Alternatively, the container body can have a groove, and the base body will have a rib. It should be further noted that it is also contemplated that a body may have both a rib and a groove that are arranged to cooperate with complementary structures on another body. For example, a base body may have both a rib and a groove for accepting a variety of container bodies, or container bodies that have both a groove and a rib. Such mixing and matching of the components of the invention are contemplated, but are too numerous to describe in detail herein.

In a third embodiment of the apparatus, illustrated in FIG. 4, the base body 112 has a groove 114. Each of the container bodies, such as the cups 120 and 121, has a sidewall and a floorwall defining respective cavities 122 and 123 that have complimentary receiving surfaces for an exterior of one of the products 11 in the collection, shown in FIG. 6. Each product can be attached to the cups by frictional engagement or any other fastener that permits removal from the cup as a separate operation from removal of the cup from the base body. Furthermore, each of the cups 120 and 121 has a rib 124 and 125, respectively, that is removably inserted into the groove 114 of the base body 112. This further illustrates what will be recognized by a person having ordinary skill in the art, which is that the rib can be a part of the container body or base body and the connection of the other body thereto will function in a complementary manner.

A “product” as used herein includes any structure that the average person can lift and handle. For example, products can include, but are not limited to, liquids, semi-liquids, pastes, solids, powders, and other materials that are contained in a container, such as a bottle, box, can or tube. Products also include solid materials that are not contained in a container, including bars of soap, coffee mugs, food products (e.g., sausage), arts and crafts products, nail polish, etc. A “user” is defined herein as a person, including, but not limited to, manufacturers, customers, and store clerks.

The method for a user creating a collection of products begins with the user selecting a base body 12 and then selecting a variety of products 11. The user then selects a cup 21 that has a complimentary receiving surface for an exterior of the selected products 11, unless the container body already has a rib or groove incorporated into it, such as the bottle 20 illustrated in FIG. 1. The user then inserts each of the selected products 11 into the cup 21 that has a receiving surface that compliments the exterior of the products 11. Finally, the user aligns the groove of each container body with the rib 24 and sequentially inserts the rib 24 into the groove 14 of each of the container bodies. Preferably one side of each container body is aligned with a side of every other container body on the rib 24. Of course, if the container body alternatively has a rib and the base body has a groove, the steps described above will be carried out with the mounting structures reversed. The base body 12, having the products 11 mounted thereon, is inserted into a receptacle, such as a basket 19, selected by the user for completing the gift set, as illustrated in FIG. 6. Of course, the base body 12 could be installed in the receptacle prior to attachment of the container bodies thereto.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the container body, preferably the cup 720, is adhered to the base body 740 as shown in FIG. 13. The adhesive 730 is a conventional adhesive, such as hot glue, that mounts the cup 720 to the base body 740 in a conventional manner. The adhesive could be replaced by other fasteners, such as snaps, hooks and loops, double-sided tape, rivets, or any other suitable fastener.

The cup 720 preferably has cylindrical sidewalls that extend upwardly (in FIG. 13) from a floorwall to form a cavity into which the vessel 700 is inserted. The vessel 700 can be a bottle, a box or a can, and the vessel 700 has an outer surface that is shaped to friction fit inside the cavity of the cup 720. Thus, when the cup 720 is mounted to the base body 740, the vessel 700 is thereby mounted to the base body 740 through its attachment to the cup 720.

There are many advantages associated with using the present invention. The method enables the user to select from a variety of products and display the products in any creative way he or she chooses, thereby eliminating the purchase of unwanted products that conventionally come in a pre-packaged gift collection. Furthermore, the position of the rib or groove on the container body enables the products to be aligned in the base, regardless of the size of the products, as illustrated in FIG. 6. And because there can be cups for any product or vessel size, one can have on hand sufficient supplies to display any collection of containers.

There are also several advantages to using the first embodiment over the third embodiment. For example, the container body having the groove integral to the product packaging enables the user to purchase a product that can be attached to the base body and, after removal, still operate in a conventional manner apart from the collection of other products. This is an advantage over the container body in which the rib is formed on the underside, because the rib can interfere, for example, with the container body standing upright. In the third embodiment, a user will have to remove the cup with the rib from the product prior to use, unless the user stores the products in the collection basket at all times because the rib will not sit evenly upon a flat surface.

While certain preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed in detail, it is to be understood that various modifications may be adopted without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the following claims. 

1. An apparatus for securely mounting a collection of products in a receptacle, the apparatus comprising: a base body and a container body for containing the product, wherein one of said bodies has at least one groove with opposing sidewalls and a floor and the other of said bodies has a rib with complementary sidewalls removably mounted in said at least one groove.
 2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the container body has said at least one groove and the base body has said at least one rib.
 3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein the container body has at least one sidewall and a floorwall defining a chamber that contains one of said products in said collection and said groove is integrally formed in the floorwall.
 4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein said groove is disposed a pre-determined distance from said at least one sidewall of the container body.
 5. The apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein the sidewalls of said groove are angled less than 90 degrees relative to the floor of the respective groove and said rib has angled sidewalls with substantially similar angles to the sidewalls of the corresponding groove.
 6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein the base body is removably mounted to a receptacle selected from the group consisting of a basket, box, can and bag.
 7. The apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein the base body is a panel bent along lines to form planar regions adjacent angled planar regions.
 8. The apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein the base body has a plurality of ribs, each of said ribs being mounted on one of said planar regions and having opposing sidewalls and a ceiling.
 9. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein the ribs are parallel to one another.
 10. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein the ribs are transverse to one another.
 11. The apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein the ribs are perpendicular to one another.
 12. The apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein the container body has a polygonal cross sectional shape.
 13. The apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein the base body is made from materials selected from the group consisting of plastic, aluminum, cardboard, wood and composite.
 14. The apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein said container body has at least one sidewall and a floorwall defining a cavity that has a complimentary receiving surface for an exterior surface of a vessel wall containing one of said products in said collection.
 15. The apparatus in accordance with claim 14, wherein said groove is disposed a pre-determined distance from said at least one sidewall of the container body.
 16. The apparatus in accordance with claim 15, wherein the sidewalls of said at least one groove are angled less than 90 degrees relative to the floor of the respective groove and each rib has angled sidewalls with substantially similar angles to the sidewalls of the corresponding groove.
 17. The apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein the base body is a panel bent along lines to form planar regions adjacent angled planar regions.
 18. The apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein the base body is removably mounted to a receptacle selected from the group consisting of a basket, box, can and bag.
 19. The apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein the base body has a plurality of ribs, each rib having opposing sidewalls and a ceiling.
 20. The apparatus in accordance with claim 19, wherein the ribs are parallel to one another.
 21. The apparatus in accordance with claim 19, wherein the ribs are transverse to one another.
 22. The apparatus in accordance with claim 19, wherein the ribs are perpendicular to one another.
 23. The apparatus in accordance with claim 14, wherein the container body has a shape selected from the group consisting of circular, rectangular, triangular, square and octagonal.
 24. The apparatus in accordance with claim 14, wherein the base body is made from materials selected from the group consisting of plastic, aluminum, cardboard, wood and composite.
 25. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the container body has at least one rib and the base body has at least one groove.
 26. The apparatus in accordance with claim 25, wherein said container body has at least one sidewall and a floorwall defining a cavity that has a complimentary receiving surface for an exterior surface of a vessel wall containing one of said products in said collection.
 27. The apparatus in accordance with claim 26, wherein said rib is disposed a pre-determined distance from said at least one sidewall of the container body.
 28. The apparatus in accordance with claim 27, wherein the sidewalls of said at least one groove are angled less than 90 degrees relative to the floor of the respective groove and each rib has angled sidewalls with substantially similar angles to the sidewalls of the corresponding groove.
 29. The apparatus in accordance with claim 28, wherein the base body is removably mounted to a receptacle selected from the group consisting of a basket, box, can and bag.
 30. The apparatus in accordance with claim 29, wherein the base body is a panel bent along lines to form planar regions adjacent angled planar regions.
 31. The apparatus in accordance with claim 30, wherein the base body has a plurality of grooves, each of said grooves having opposing sidewalls and a floor.
 32. The apparatus in accordance with claim 31, wherein the grooves are parallel to one another.
 33. A method for a user securely mounting a collection of products in a receptacle, the method comprising the user: (a) selecting a base body and a container body, wherein one of said bodies has at least one groove with opposing sidewalls and a floor and the other of said bodies has a rib with complementary sidewalls; (b) removably mounting the container body to the base body by inserting the rib into said at least one groove.
 34. The method in accordance with claim 33, wherein the user aligns the container body along a plane to form a collection of products having a common aligned side.
 35. The apparatus in accordance with claim 34, further comprising the user mounting the base body into a receptacle.
 36. The method in accordance with claim 35, further comprising an agent of the seller of the plurality of products training the user how to construct the collection.
 37. An apparatus for securely mounting a collection of products in a receptacle, the apparatus comprising: (a) a base body mounted in the receptacle; (b) a container body adjacent the base body and having at least one sidewall and a floorwall defining a cavity with a complimentary surface receiving an exterior surface of a vessel wall containing one of the products in the collection, (c) means for fastening the container body to the base body. 